Cleveland Park Business Association

I am not a member of CCC. I attended one meeting as an invited guest (I thought).

CPCA and CPBA collaborated for three months considering the question, “is a farmer’s market right for Cleveland Park”? We identified a manager of a farmer’s market that was in complete agreement about the neighborhood-focused quality we identified as a fundamental criteria for Cleveland Park. That manager worked for several weeks with local businesses to identify 10 vendors, times and a location that were acceptable to our local retailers. Almost all businesses were approached by CPBA for input. Certainly the businesses that would have grave concern were approached including Firehook, Yes, and Brookville. Brookville never responded.

After several meetings between local business owners and the proposed manager, we thought we had a model upon which everyone agreed. Only then did we apply for a public space permit and ask to appear in front of the ANC for its support.

It is my understanding that some local businesses supported the market wholeheartedly and other supported the Market with great caution. That is why we presented the concept as a six month trial. Also, the model included two free vendor tents for use by local businesses and/or organizations. Three businesses donated private parking spaces for a total of six vendor trucks, keeping the trucks off of residential streets and from using metered spaces along the Avenue. We felt quite certain we could identify donated spaces for the additional four vendor trucks or cars (not all vendors deliver in trucks). The last thing CPBA or CPCA wanted to do was to create something that would harm local businesses or create hardship for local residents.

It is unfortunate that Brookeville communicated its concerns only last Friday. Its unfortunate that they refused to meet with any of the farmers market organizers to explore the possibility of addressing their concerns. I can’t say that the meeting would have successfully assuaged Brookville’s concerns. I sure would have liked the opportunity to try.

I wouldn’t characterize the effort we made as an attempt to “plop a Farmer’s Market down on public space.” Nor would I characterize our process as a “Mickey & Judy putting on an amateur show.” I’m not certain if Commissioner Steacy was implying this or not. But I can assure the community that a great deal of careful consideration, notification, and collaboration by a great many busy people went into this effort.

“The ANC voted last night 4-2 not to support the market,” which means they took no action to support or oppose the farmers market. In short, they have opted out (as a group, not individually).

The ANC’s decision is advisory, and won’t be given consideration by the Public Space Committee since it is essentially neutral. Public Space is staffed by DDOT, but includes members of OP, DCRA, and the Office of the Secretary. http://planning.dc.gov/DC/Planning/Across+the+City/Other+Citywide+Initiatives/Public+Space/Additional+Resources/What+is+the+Public+Space+Committee

The headline is more factual than the first line, but both need a little refinement.

More unfortunate that a neighbor such as Brookville made what appears to be a compelling argument against the market. They’re open a full 77 hours in a business week. It’s hard to imagine that a farmer’s market open during 5% of those hours would significantly impact their bottom line. I volunteer at the Glover Park/Burleith Farmer’s market and am always impressed by the support of nearby businesses including Whole Foods and Starbucks. And they support a farmer’s market that sells a bounty of fresh produce and includes a local coffee company.

I implore the four ANC commissioners who voted the market down to provide just one example of another farmer’s market that has hurt the commercial and social fabric of a neighborhood. Farmer’s markets are many things to many people – but a business killer they are not.

Brookville’s produce selection leaves much to be desired. Yes! has a very select amount of fresh produce available – what they have is delicious, but it’s a very small selection compared to what one would find at a farmer’s market. So I will continue to visit farmer’s markets in other neighborhoods, and continue to visit grocery stores in other neighborhoods.